Hello, I am new to the BiggerPockets platform and new to real estate investing.

I say this because if you plan to refi the entire debt anyway in 3-5 years, you're just gambling with the interest rates.

I refuse to wrap my ego in this buying bonanza, I don't need to make all my money right now as a gamble and I don't care to brag about "i got x amount of units so effing fast you can't believe it".

Seems like a huge gamble.

I can see that this platform is really going to help me in my journey.

If you are ever in the Raleigh-Durham area, please don’t hesitate to reach out.Thanks BP for this great platform for REI to connect!

Social connecting through a web platform for others to leverage the knowledge and experience of others.

And even though I did a low / no money down deal, I did have the money to buy outright, so I was not going ALL-IN on a gamble.

Granted, those meetups are marketed specifically at newer investors who don't quite know what they're up against: a platform to empower newer investors to get started saving capital, doing market research and lock down their first deal(s). 

Some of the larger community development groups, private equity funds, etc. have launched specific OZ platforms, and some local economic development officials are funding programs to reach out to equity investors.My impression of Milwaukee is that it's a tight-knit market.